Rubikon: Journal of Transnational American Studies
Vol 13, No 1 (2026)

REASSERTING CONSERVATISM THROUGH USAID REFORM: CULTURAL POLITICS DISCOURSE IN PROJECT 2025’S “MANDATE FOR LEADERSHIP: THE CONSERVATIVE PROMISE”

Pratama, Rifka (Unknown)
Laksono, Arido (Unknown)
Falah, Fajrul (Unknown)
Subhan, Muhammad (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
17 Apr 2026

Abstract

The proposed reforms for the US Agency for International Development (USAID), as articulated in Project 2025’s “Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise”, reflect the conservatives’ efforts to reconfigure the progressive values long upheld by liberal–democratic administrations in the US government. International aid is no longer viewed as a neutral humanitarian tool but as a strategic instrument of national interest. The reform proposal represents a contestation over cultural dominance, where competing political forces seek to legitimize their power through ideological control. This study employs a qualitative approach, analyzing policy documents “Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise”, Section 2, Point 9 — pertaining to USAID. The analysis is conducted within the framework of cultural politics theory, wherein discourse—in both textual and oral forms—is conceptualized as a site of power and cultural contestation. The findings reveal that the proposed reforms to USAID constitute a systematic cultural–political strategy by the conservative bloc, aimed at realigning foreign aid priorities and ideologies.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

rubikon

Publisher

Subject

Humanities

Description

RUBIKON, Journal of Transnational American Studies (JTAS) specializes in American Studies especially transnational studies of the U.S. It is also intended to communicate American Studies issues and challenges. This journal warmly welcomes contributors from American Studies scholars, researchers, and ...